Match Preview

This Saturday we make our first visit to Waterloo for the return match in North One West.

This league, the sixth tier of English rugby union, is the lowest Waterloo have ever played and is the highest level Anselmians have competed, but history was ignored at Rivacre Road last October when the Saints, against the odds, won 18-12 to record their first victory of the 2018-19 season.

Given that Anselmians overturned a six point deficit to score ten points without reply to defeat Manchester in their last game, players and coaches will be quietly confident. In denying their opponents any opportunity to score in the second half, Saints again showed their indomitable spirit and determination.

Waterloo are currently 12th, one place above Anselmians, albeit having forty points to our fifteen, but have won only one of their last eight games, against De La Salle on the first Saturday of 2019. They have, however, lost three games by two points or less. They conceded at home to Stockport, 3-5, and lost away, 17-13, and 23-24, at home, to Birkenhead Park.

Last season, their first in North One West since being relegated from the old National League in 2016-17, they finished fourth.
Both sides will be grateful for a blank Saturday last week. Victory against Manchester was important and Anselmians will be up for the contest. Waterloo may being suffering a lack of self-belief that usually accompanies a losing run, as Saints know only too well.

It promises to be an intriguing contest.